M.W. JAMES F. TROUTT II

MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path. (Proverbs 3:6) I have chosen this place and this time to acknowledge Him and to give Him all honor and praise and glory, for it is through Him, that we live and move and have our being. We need to magnify and glorify His Holy Name... for He is King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace, Wonderful, Counselor, Jehovah Gira, God the Provider, the Lamb of God.

Today I greet you in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; It is through His grace and His mercy that I am able to stand before you to give an account of my stewardship from July 12, 2000 until today. While I have served as an officer of this Grand Lodge for nineteen years consecutively, that does not mean I deserve to be your Grand Master. All that we have and all that we are is by the Grace of God. We don’t deserve anything; not even the clothes we are wearing.

As we begin yet another important undertaking, let us choose now to invoke the aid of deity. (***) Gracious and eternal God, our Father, Giver of all good gifts and graces, we come before you this morning Lord God with bowed heads and humble hearts, praising, magnifying and glorifying your Holy Name. Father God we thank you for this day, and for your tender mercy and your loving kindness, but more especially for your divine Grace—that undeserved kindness you bless us with continually.

Lord we pray this morning for the sick and shut in. We pray for the homeless and for the hungry Father God.. .that you’ll reach out and touch them if it be your will Father. We pray for our mothers and fathers, our Sons and daughters, our sisters and brothers and all of our extended families, that you’ll just touch Lord. Keep us safe and secure, healthy and strong if it’s your will.

Father God, we ask you this morning to hear from heaven. We ask you Father God to forgive our sin Father God and we ask you to heal our land. You know Father that this Grand Body has seen troubled times over the past year, and you know that we have sinned and fallen short of your glory.

We know Father God that it says in Ecclesiastes that it has all happened before. “...Generations come and go, but nothing really changes. The sun rises and sets and hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south and north, here and there, twisting back and forth, getting nowhere. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.  …we don’t remember former times, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now... What is wrong cannot be righted. What is missing cannot be recovered..,for the greater our wisdom, the greater our grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.” (Ecclesiastes 1:3-18)

Father God, your word says “...where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) Today, Father, we are gathered in your name and we are asking you to bless us in the name of the Lord. We pray Father God for your guidance during this 98th Annual Communication. We pray for your wisdom Father to conduct the business of this Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge in peace and harmony.

We pray for our visiting brethren and for their families. We pray for their understanding as we go through the pain of the struggles we had this past year. And Father God we pray that everything we do and everything we say will be pleasing in your sight. These and all blessings we ask in thy Holy Name and in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. So mote it be. (*),

Brethren, it is clear, that trying to prepare for the Office of Grand Master is like trying to prepare for a spouse’s or a near relative’s death. Although they may be sick for many, many years, they are not gone, and when the homecoming finally arrives, we are still unprepared. With all of my years, serving this Grand Lodge in so many various positions, I found there is NOTHING like serving as Grand Master, and nothing that can prepare one for it.

Nevertheless, it has been my greatest honor to serve this Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge since my election on July 12, 2000. It is now my distinct honor and pleasure to welcome all of you to the 98th Annual Communication of our Jurisdiction. It is also my special privilege to welcome Most Worshipful Brother Eiichi Inae, Honorable Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan and his entourage all the way from Tokyo, Japan.

We regret that Most Worshipful Grand Master Robert L Van Zee, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington was unable to attend our 98th Annual Session, but feel very honored to have received RW DGM Jimmy Reid who is representing the Grand Master, and we welcome the delegation that accompanied Right Worshipful Brother Reid.

Finally, I must say I am overwhelmed to have back with us Honorable Brother Charles R. Taylor, Most Worshipful Grand Master, and the delegation belonging to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the states of Oregon, Idaho and Montana, Inc.

We add a little special emphasis regarding Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters William Odom and Joseph L Harvey who are honorary Life Members of this Most Worshipful Grand Lodge.

Most Worshipful Brother Taylor is the new kid on the “Grand Master’s” block, having been elected just 13 days ago, so please don’t ask him any hard questions.

NECROLOGY

After you have passed through the change that men call death, and the Kindly Master of all good workmen shall call you from labor to refreshment and rest for a short while, before setting you to labor anew in some other world with a wider field of endeavor, you enter upon some great adventure with joyous spirit and meet the Master face to face. You’ve been a workman who need not be ashamed, a laborer worthy of his hire, a gentleman, unafraid.

We pray that the constant aim and end for these brethren, was truth and justice, religion and piety, that the temple erected in each of them was beautified and adorned with charity’s choicest jewel and so acceptable to the All Seeing Eye that when at the close of their virtuous lives they were summoned by the Omnific Word, they were then admitted to that glorious and celestial lodge, that house not made with hands, whose architect is the Grand Master of the Universe.

We now pause to pay tribute to the brethren who have been called from labor to eternal rest since our last Annual Communication. While I was not familiar with all of our departed brethren, I do know the departed brethren included Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Frank Russell, elected as Grand Master in 1968, Right Worshipful Past Grand Warden J. T. Smith, who served for more than fifty years in our jurisdiction, Worshipful Master Lewis D Nash, a tremendous asset to Pioneer Lodge #39.

Worshipful Brother Jody McCrackin, who served for many years, was best known for his service on the Grand Entertainment Committee, and Worshipful Brother LaBlase Blocquer who also labored for many years provided a Masonic Supply Store. The full list is as follows:

          Calvin S. Brooks                                                                               James Theodore Smith, Sr.

          Hercules Lodge #17                                                                            Union Lodge #43

          June 23, 2000                                                                                     December 27, 2000

          Lewis D. Nash                                                                                   Joe B. Williams

          Pioneer Lodge #39                                                                              J.C. Logan Lodge #53

          July 19, 2000                                                                                       February 7, 2001

          Robert M. Morris                                                                              LaBlase L. Blocquer

          Cassia Lodge #5                                                                                Martin Luther King Jr. Lodge #65

          July 21, 2C30                                                                                      February 18, 2001

          Edward P. Richardson                                                                     John H. Wilson

          Harmony Lodge #2                                                                             Arthur Ury Lodge #73

          September 9, 2000                                                                             March 1, 2001

          Frank H. Russell                                                                               Ernest Moore

          Cassia Lodge #5                                                                                Harmony Lodge #2

          October 11, 2000                                                                               April 22, 2001

          Jody McCrackin                                                                               Preston Duncan

          Martin Luther King Jr. Lodge #65                                                       Hercules Lodge #17

          October 27, 2000                                                                               April 24, 2001

          William Watkins                                                                                Tyne Howard Jr.

          Abiff Lodge #37                                                                                   Inland Empire #3

          November 28, 2000

We cherish their memories and reflect upon their great works as they exemplified the meaning of brotherly love, relief and truth. WB Grand Chaplain, please lead us in prayer. (***) Amen (*)

STATE OF THE DISTRICTS

Much progress is being made throughout our jurisdiction despite the rumors that have been rampant, and the anonymous mailings with propaganda and in many cases outright lies about brothers, sisters and this administration.

District Number 1 is doing well under the leadership of the new District Deputy Grand Master, Right Worshipful Dwaine T. Coverson. Although RW Coverson was just appointed in February, he has helped to improve his district already, leading by example and being extremely visible.

Since becoming a District Deputy Grand Master, RW Brother Coverson has not missed a Grand Master’s Visitation in his district or any other district. Additionally, he has been called upon to serve on various investigation committees, and has served as Chairman of two different Masonic Trial Commissions.

He has been fortunate in that although there have been some rough waters in Seattle, he has managed to maintain his membership with a very insignificant loss--from 300 last year to 294 this year.

Considering that 9 of those who went on to Glory this year were from his district, it is clear that membership is still doing well.

It would be a gross error on my part if I did not mention the absolute, unwavering support this administration has received from Hercules Lodge #17. They asked me to visit their lodge at my earliest convenience, and I made sort of an unofficial visit sensing some urgency. I found the members to be warm, sincere, proficient and helpful. They simply wanted to be heard and acknowledged. They were also the first lodge to commit to a $500 donation toward the financial recovery of the Grand Lodge. And, they paid it.

District Number 2 has had many successes, which certainly could be attributable to its leadership and the monthly meetings held by its District Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Brother David M Milton. These meetings have fostered leadership training as well as increased proficiency levels for Masters and Wardens.

This is R.W. Brother Milton’s first year as District Deputy Grand Master, and he has served his district and this jurisdiction with honor, and would appear to most to be a veteran whose performance belies his tenure in this position. We are pleased to acknowledge that he has led the craft with his greatest emphasis being placed on church calls, prayer breakfasts and leadership training.

D.D.G.M. Milton has had one lodge in District 2 that qualified for the Grand Master’s trophy because of a membership increase of fifteen percent. The trophy goes to Hamma Hamma Lodge #35 whose membership increased from forty-eight to fifty-eight.

Lastly, R.W. Milton should be commended for his vision in getting all lodges in his district to come together for a joint banquet that will take place on August 31, 2001. There are seven lodges in the district and seven banquets would be extremely costly to the members. The cohesiveness they are showing is outstanding.

R.W. D.D.G.M. Arthur T. Broady continues to serve in District Number 3 despite being in a very unusual area. The pool of resources needed to increase membership is extremely limited. The loss of the worshipful master of Pioneer Lodge #39 was truly devastating, especially considering that his proficiency excellence was beginning to rub off on other members. Still, the lodge thrives on work in its community, the District Deputy boasts that 100% of the membership pays dues on time every year, and their taxes are current. That shows their commitment.

It is unfortunate that this may be the last year for Guiding Star #6, of Yakima, WA and William H Upton #11 of Walla Walla, WA. You can tell by their numbers, 6 and 11, that they are very old lodges and we certainly do not want to close them down, but unless we can come up with something very creative, we shall have to do so. Guiding Star has only one member we know of and I am not sure anyone knows how to contact him. Worshipful Master Elliot of #11 has only one other active member in his lodge who currently resides in Arizona. During the year, I traveled to Walla Walla to visit with WM Elliot and to pick up the charter, however, it was clear to me that it would have broken his heart, so I did not. Nevertheless, something will have to change.

While District Number 4 of Spokane, Washington, is a very small district, it has continued not only to hold on, but to grow. Inland Empire Lodge #3, of which I am a member, started off the year with 23 members. On June 20, 2001, they reported a total membership of 29, which is an increase of twenty-five percent, and entitles them to a Grand Master’s trophy for a fifteen percent or more increase in membership. As small as it is, the lodge also donated $400 toward the financial recovery of this Grand Lodge.

Perfect AshIer Lodge #40, has the distinction of being the only lodge in the entire jurisdiction that did not show up for the Grand Master’s Visitation. The only person from that lodge who did show up was my District Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Brother Melvin H. Powell. It is sad, to say the least, that such a thing could happen. Matthew 13:57 quotes the Son of Man saying “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.”

The good news is that we normally travel at least 300 miles to visit one of the lodges and this time it was only five miles.

District Deputy Grand Master Powell attended staff meetings in Seattle, assisted Inland Empire Lodge with two passings and raisings, and accompanied the Grand Master on his visit to Inland Empire and Perfect AshIer Lodges. He also assisted Inland Empire Lodge with the homecoming service for Past Master Tyrie Howard, Jr. Finally, he made all arrangements for this Grand Lodge to participate in Spokane’s Lilac Festival Parade, arranging for the Grand Master to ride in a 1965 Chevy convertible that was the talk of the parade. We still have a dream to have from 50-200 masons fully regaled marching down the streets of Spokane.

District Number 5, under the leadership of R.W. District Deputy Grand Master C. David Henry, has done well in spite of some hard-to-overcome difficulties.  District 5 had three lodges when the year began, but ended the year with two.  Evergreen Lodge #9 voted unanimously to request that their lodge be returned to District One, where it had been for over 90 consecutive years when it was changed to District Five a few years ago for no apparent reason and without asking their opinion.  They were returned to District One on March 10, 2001, and are happy. They, too, while small in numbers, donated $400 to the financial recovery of the Grand Lodge.

It seems African Genesis Lodge #101 has also had a fifteen percent increase in membership, but at the writing of this address, the jury was still out and the information is not yet firm. True Resolution Lodge #16 had a decrease in membership of one. Nevertheless, they are very much involved in the community with Church Calls, Scholarship and Educational sponsorship, a Children’s Christmas function and a Mother’s Day function.

District Number 6 remains in the capable hands of R.W. D.D.G.M. Leroy Trent of Lee Grant Rogers Lodge #61. The lodges in his District and under his leadership include Cherry Blossom #42, O’Misawa #54, Pride of the Orient #55, Genesis #89 and Revelations #98. The total membership in the District is 251. The district has had two workshops during the district Masonic year (April to April); one sponsored by Genesis and the other by O’Misawa. M.W. Grand Master Kazuhiro Watanabe and his staff attended the workshop in Tokyo. The Masonic Temple in Tokyo has graciously allowed us to use their building as well.

This district is very much involved in community activities that include Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities on base, Orphanages, Schools on and off base and Christmas Programs. All lodges support the youth programs on the military installation where they reside.

Lodge proficiency is steadily improving because of the Masonic Preparation teams for each degree that are currently in place. Lodges have principal officers responsible for each degree. Each lodge is co-located with a lodge from the Grand Lodge of Japan and or the Grand Lodge of the Philippines and regularly participates in conducting candidates during degree work.

Outstanding support, total commitment, and excellence describe District Number 7 under the leadership and tutelage of Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master Gardner M (Ice Man) Torrence, Sr., who oversees the work of Torii Lodge #46 and Okinawa Military Lodge #68. He reports that Torii is doing quite well with Worshipful Master Robert L. Deloney at the helm. The main thrust for Torii has been membership, and its membership has increased by five.

Oki Mil had some difficulty this year, especially considering that it was selected as the Lodge of the Year last year. Expectations for them, and even from them were extremely high. The new worshipful master however, had serious personal problems, and lacked the leadership and management skills necessary to maintain the previous standard. W.M. Harris ultimately resigned from the chair and the District Deputy requested a special election to prevent this lodge from losing any further momentum.

The dispensation was granted and the lodge has since increased its membership by seventeen making it eligible for a Grand Master’s trophy as well. We are extremely pleased with the outstanding support we have received from this district. Watch for their contribution to the financial recovery program of the Grand Lodge. I could not ask for better support from a District Deputy than I have received from D.D.G.M. Torrence.

District Number 8: No report.

Sustained superior performance over a period of twenty consecutive years as District Deputy Grand Master, describes our Right Worshipful Brother Andrew Morgan of District Number 9 in Europe. This is by far the largest district in the entire jurisdiction and boasts (well—RW Morgan doesn’t boast), but claims twenty-one lodges on its last report. The overall increase in membership between December 2000 and June 2001 is at 16. That is a significant increase when considering they had to overcome military deployments, rotation of members back to the States and many extended work hours. In fact, with 21 lodges any increase is significant.

District Deputy Morgan attributes most of the successes in District Number 9 to the fact that “overall leadership in our lodges represents the best and brightest we have experienced in many years.” He further credits the internet with being a great resource that has helped the district retain and reclaim members spread out all over the world that were dropped for nonpayment before the advent of the internet.

It never ceases to amaze me when I see how District Deputy Grand Master Morgan’s leadership causes so many brothers to remain in District Nine no matter where the military decides to move them. They are loyal to his district because of his leadership. They truly consider themselves “Morgan’s Masons” as printed on T-Shirts.

All of the lodges have contributed to the communities in which they live, and I would say the largest contribution was their participation in Special Olympics where they combined efforts with the Jurisdictions of Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Georgia and the American Canadian Grand Lodge. Together, they donated a combined $10,000, and had over 250 volunteers from the Masonic Family.

The District also sponsored a very successful Disco Boat Cruise that boosted morale and lifted the spirits of the District Nine family. The celebration of St John the Baptist Day was celebrated jointly with Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Illinois and Massachusetts. It was recognized as the first-ever joint celebration and included a family picnic. During the picnic, each jurisdiction fielded a baseball team and District Nine, Jurisdiction of Washington, became the European Champions.

There are a few matters requiring our attention and I am confident that between District Deputy Grand Master Morgan, Grand Secretary Davis and this office, they will be sorted out in the not-to-distant future. They relate to taxes and other back payments owed--or not owed.

Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master James L Shepard, Jr., has continued to function as the leader of District Number 10 in an excellent manner. He oversees the work of five lodges in the Republic of Korea.

RW Brother Shepard faces tremendous odds considering that people only go to Korea to serve a one-year tour of duty. That, coupled with the fact that there are other jurisdictions operating in Korea, makes any and all successes remarkable.

The lodges in District 10 have been extremely active in the community, and have paid special attention to the Amerasian community where children are often abandoned and or orphaned at a very early age. A couple of the lodges in Korea have taken up the slack and have made up for some of the shortfalls in the Korean society that lacks interest or concern for these children.

The military also sponsors a program known as Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers. The program is geared toward supporting the military community’s unaccompanied soldiers. District Ten supports this Army Program with funds as well as labor hours in support of tours, social functions and sports programs.

The district is involved in church activities both on and off the military installations, and has established rapport in such a manner that there is no difficulty in attaining appropriate places to carry out the mandatory celebrations of Saints John and Prince Hall. Overall, District Ten has done well.

District Number 11 has been under the leadership of R.W. Brother Larry Opher throughout most of this Masonic year. However, he is active duty Army and shipped out to Korea on April 18, 2001. Since it was so close to the end of the Masonic year, and because R.W. Opher anticipated getting back to the States for the Grand Session, I did not appoint a permanent District Deputy to take his place. We did appoint R.W. Brother William Beale as a temporary replacement to finish out the rest of the year.

On or about the 10th of May, I learned that D.D.G.M. Beale suffered heart failure and subsequent to that, a stroke. R.W. Brother David Milton, D.D.G.M. of District #2 notified me of this while I was attending the Conference of Grand Masters in North Carolina.

He also volunteered to assist me with District 11. After attending a combined meeting R.W. Milton had for districts 2 and 11, it was my decision to officially appoint him over District 11 for the remainder of the Masonic year. He has done extremely well exercising superb leadership over both districts.

District Number 12: No report. However, we will report the making of a Master Mason On-Site, Rev. Robert Lee Broadney, during the Far East annual District Session held in the Republic of the Philippines, April 30 through May 1, 2001.

Headquarters Lodge #75 has been quite successful this year although their numbers dropped on June 20, 2001. WM Robert Tucker, PM Sid Breckenridge and WM William T Hall have handled all of the administration. I have been informed that WM Tucker turned in a check in the amount of $3,000 for financial recovery, and more specifically, to be used toward the disabled access to our building in Seattle or Tacoma. WM Tucker and his staff should be commended.

STATE OF THE CRAFT

This has been an interesting and difficult year for this administration, starting with the Grand Master receiving approximately one hour of transition into the position. The easiest way to give an account of my stewardship is to just start at the beginning.  Seventeen days after being elected to serve the highest position in Masonry, I held my first staff meeting and made it clear to the entire staff that I have no secrets and nothing to hide.

Two weeks later, I sent out a letter inviting all of the former Grand Masters who reside in this state to meet with me. We met on August 12, 2000. During this meeting, the Grand Masters expressed most, if not all, of their concerns for the jurisdiction.

One thing that was pointed out was that two members of the Comptroller Board were removed during the previous year, but it was not reported in the Grand Master’s official acts.

Article 13 of the Code clearly states that those official acts not approved, and those official acts not reported during the grand lodge session, become null and void on the day the session closes. Therefore, I reinstated the two members.

During the month of August, I traveled to Boise, Idaho, in an attempt to settle our differences with the MWPHGL of Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Past Grand Master Henry Scott, Jr. and I spent three days together. Unable to work it out, some of the Past Grand Masters of this jurisdiction asked if they could assist. They did assist and found a solution that caused PGM Scott to restore fraternal relations on October 4, 2000, which is something this Grand Lodge voted to try to do as soon as possible.

In August, we were also threatened with a bill for more than $20,000 because we were in default on the contract we signed with the West Coast Hotel in Olympia during our 97th Annual Session. Due to the severing of the relationship between this Grand Lodge and the Prince Hall Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, we failed to meet our contractual obligation for rooms rented. Things became so bad that the manager of the hotel quit her job on the Saturday before the session began.

Because of the urgency of the matter, I made a special trip from Spokane to meet with the Convention Director, RW Brother Milton Jones, and the hotel staff.

We also invited Past Grand Master Tucker, in case he could help with negotiations based on his former service as Convention Director. The bill was reduced to $7,800 before we got there, and the hotel staff felt that was more than fair.

After a long discussion, we asked for some privacy to discuss matters among ourselves. At this time, the hotel had reduced the penalty to half. On their return, I told them we simply did not have the money and they reduced it to $1,500. PGM Tucker then asked if we paid immediately, would they accept $1,000. They agreed and I paid it by personal credit card the next day and then got reimbursed by the Grand Entertainment Committee. Clearly, it could have been devastating. Had they taken us to court we would not have had a leg to stand on.

In November of 2000, I authorized a Masonic Trial on Past Grand Master William C. Rheubottom. The trial was held on January 13, 2001, and ended with the equivalent to a hung jury. Title 204, section 204.08 and Title 205, section 205.01 clearly state that the verdict and recommendations shall be unanimous.

The Masonic Code gave me several options under the circumstances. There was so much dissention and hurt within the jurisdiction that I decided for the welfare of the fraternity, it would be best to end it.

Hindsight, however, is always 20/20, and we still have dissention over the trial. For this Grand Lodge to accept a verdict that is not unanimous is a violation of Titles 204 and 205.     Therefore, I am withdrawing the letter dated January 24, 2001, which stated that P.G.M. Rheubottom is acquitted.

Past Grand Secretary Charles E Berry, whose trial was postponed in February due to his health, was tried on June 9, 2001.  P.G.S. Berry was found guilty unanimously by a commission. To date, I have not received the transcripts from the trial and therefore have not received a recommended punishment.

In February, we had a Grand Lodge Trial on P.M. Lonnie R Traylor. He was found not guilty in a unanimous decision by the trial commission. Again, for the welfare of the fraternity and in the interest of justice, I ordered a new trial and appointed a new commission in accordance with our Masonic Code. On June 16, 2001, he was found guilty unanimously. I am also waiting for the transcripts from his trial. On June 18, 2001, he gave me seven days to respond to his request for transcripts from both trials.

ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICERS

This administration has been plagued by officers who have judged the Grand Master, officers who are not yet aware of who the Grand Master is, and officers that are not aware of some of the basics. Getting back to basics means in part that we are to support our Grand Master, our District Deputy Grand Masters, our Worshipful Masters and all of our officers.

We don’t have the luxury of picking and choosing whether or not we will support them depending upon whether or not we like them. A Grand Master is elected by the Craft, and the people who elect him should support him. In Matthew 12:25, it says every house divided against itself shall not stand. This house is clearly divided against itself.

The Deputy Grand Master seemed to be a team player at the beginning of the year, but it didn’t last. It seems he has had some differences of opinion that caused him not to support the programs of this administration. Many subjects have been extremely controversial this year, particularly during the Spring Workshop where several brothers came to my defense, yet he has remained silent in the midst of heated discussions.

Matthew 12:30 reads “Anyone who isn’t helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” It is extremely difficult to lead two thousand people when your second in command is working against you.

One result is that we are paying more this year for the banquet meal than ever. Of the approximate 30 lodge visitations we have had this year, the Deputy has attended about half. He did contribute to financial recovery.

The Grand Senior Warden has been my most staunch support from the very beginning of this year to the very end. He has bent over backwards to assist me in everything I have asked of him. He has on several occasions come to the defense of the Office of the Grand Master without fear of reprisal. And I say the Office of the Grand Master because he has not tried to defend me and should not have to, but all masons are obliged to pay homage to the Office of the Grand Master.

RW Brother Harris has attended all except two of the 30 visits in the State and in Canada. He was excused from the ones he missed. He has also accompanied me to Europe and the Far East, mostly at his own expense. I was able to help him defray a portion of his expenses for the trip to the Far East.

He put on an outstanding Spring Workshop, and we were able to clear the air concerning some of the rumors that have inundated the jurisdiction all year. While the workshop is not considered a fund raiser, the Grand Lodge realized a profit of more than $600 mainly due to his own hard work and the preparation of the meal that was served. The Grand Chapter and Grand High Court made a profit as well.

He has been actively involved in the raising of funds through special projects at the Tacoma Dome this year as well. He has been the overseer/worker bee while DDGM Master David Milton led the charge of Districts 2 and 11 in raising a total of $1,788.36 toward our financial recovery and I think there is a check coming to us soon that RW Milton has not yet received. This project has been ongoing all year. RW Harris also contributed toward the financial recovery.

The newspaper and public relations are the responsibility of the Grand Senior Warden as well. He will tell you of his accomplishments in those areas.

Unfortunately, it did not occur to me that our Grand Lodge Website should have been under public relations as opposed to the Deputy Grand Master until we had so many things go wrong with the Website.

I had phone calls wanting to know why I put my picture next to an article written by PGM Rheubottom.

In general, the Grand Senior Warden, RW Julian L Harris, has done an outstanding job this year.

Grand Junior Warden Jolly has not been a part of this team at all. “Anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” RW Jolly doesn’t seem to know there was a changing of the guard this year. The perception I have, right or wrong, is that he thinks PGM Rheubottom is still the Grand Master.

When the trial of PGM Rheubottom was set up, I appointed him to be the prosecutor. He promptly sent me a letter I have attached to this report telling me he couldn’t prosecute his brother. Again, we cannot pick and choose. We all have unpleasant duties from time to time that must be performed. We are elected to these positions because of the trust and confidence you place in us. We must perform the duties prescribed by law.

G.J.W Jolly was also appointed as prosecutor of the trial on P.G.S. Charles E Berry. His first response to me when I directed him to frame the charges was that he didn’t see any violations and P.G.S. Berry was within his first amendment rights. He only framed the charges under threat. He later wrote a letter to me suggesting he does not presume to tell the Grand Master what to do, but he wanted to offer his opinion as a master mason. Letter attached.

I am not sure what that meant. When one speaks as a master mason, does he no longer hold his elected position?  I have told all grand lodge officers to wear their grand lodge regalia to all blue house meetings. We are grand lodge officers twenty-four hours, seven days a week. His opinion was that we should negotiate regarding the trial on Berry. We should have a meeting with himself (the prosecutor), P.M. Crumb (defense), Berry (accused), the Deputy Grand Master (for some reason?) and me.

After pondering that notion for a while and trying to figure out the point, my decision was to remove G.J.W Jolly from his position as prosecutor. I could not see how he could prosecute if he did not believe there was an offense. I appointed G.S.W. Julian Harris to prosecute.

In January, Most Worshipful Grand Master Jack Harper of British Columbia, Canada and the Yukon and I had a talk about renewing the bond of friendship and recognition between our two Grand Lodges. He appointed three members to a committee and so did we. RW Jolly chaired our side. The task was to plan an outing at the Peace Arch near the American-Canadian Border to renew our commitment to each other and prepare a document to be placed in a time capsule.

The idea was to get it done before mid June while that Grand Master was still in office. At first the plan was going well and the G.J.W sent me a status report with a good plan. Later, the G.J.W planned it from A to Z without any further discussion with me and asked for my stamp of approval. During the ceremony, according to his new plan, we would be honoring PGM Clarke Gilmore and PGM William C Rheubottom. It was not set up at the Peace Arch and there was no time capsule. For those reasons, I cancelled the ceremony.

The Grand Treasurer has struggled over the last four years, but has done a more satisfactory job this year than in the past. However, it took a lot of counseling and oversight on the part of the Grand Master, GE /V, and the Grand Secretary.

In those counseling sessions, I found that the checkbook register was not being maintained among other things. During a follow-up session, I found it still wasn’t being maintained adequately.

RW Price was directed during the last grand session to re-accomplish his annual report within 60 days of the close. Although he did not meet the 60-day requirement, he did re-accomplish the report. Unfortunately, the new report was unsatisfactory as well and it had to be done over. He eventually prepared a good report.

In the meantime, I appointed Grand Junior Steward Andrew Harris as the Assistant Grand Treasurer, which was a tremendous help.

It is significant to note that RW Price has contributed immeasurably toward the success of the grand lodge in many ways. He provided computers for the Grand Master and the Grand Secretary and often gets equipment and supplies for the Grand Lodge at no expense to the Grand Lodge. He is commended for this. He has also served as the locksmith for the Grand Lodge and saved us quite a large sum of money in that regard. He still donated his hundred dollars to the financial recovery of the Grand Lodge, in addition to those other donations.

RW Grand Secretary Clarence Davis was in pretty much the same boat as I regarding transition into a new job with no training. At first, I think he was overwhelmed by the amount of work required of a Grand Secretary. His insatiable desire to succeed is the only thing that got him through the year. He worked extremely hard and donated toward financial recovery.

Recently I have determined that there are some areas of concern—mainly the status of lodge taxes, membership and reporting. Lodges have not been reporting in a timely manner and reports have not been accurate. To date, I have never seen a quarterly report that did not have an error. He has tried to tackle these problems without my knowledge, in an attempt to save me some headaches. This has worked in reverse and I now have big headaches.

Now it is clear to me that thirty-one of our sixty-six lodges did not submit third quarter reports. On June 23rd fifty-one lodges were late with fourth quarter taxes and reporting. This cannot be kept a secret from the Grand Master.

I have instructed the Comptroller Board to pay close attention to the monthly reporting of status during the next administration.

The Grand Lecturer, RW Patrick Hughes had a lot of good intentions this year, but I am not sure that much of what he planned was accomplished. He does stand out as a Grand Lecturer who has gotten out and visited just about every lodge in Washington and Canada. He also traveled to the Far East as part of the Grand Lodge delegation, at his own expense. As he becomes more seasoned, he will need to acquire more of a service attitude. The grand lodge staff is here to serve and not to be served. He has done well and he too contributed to the financial recovery of the grand lodge.

Three of the five Grand Trustees have supported the financial recovery program—two of them with more than $100.

The trustees have continued to perform their duties well under the leadership of the chairman, RW Chillis N. Nickelberry, who has been very ill this year and still performed his duties in an outstanding manner.

When I think of appointed Grand Lodge Officers, certain ones always come to mind.  Grand Junior Steward/Assistant Grand Treasurer Andrew Harris has been a staunch supporter for seven years. This year was no exception. He has attended almost every Grand Master’s visitation. Grand Marshal Hank Sheegog is always supportive.

The Grand Chaplain, WB Jesse T Ogburn has been around quite a bit and has often prayed for this Grand Lodge. WM Gilbert McClary has worked hard as the Assistant Grand Secretary and has traveled many miles to assist.

SDDGM Alonzo D. Foote has been a tremendous asset to the Grand Lodge team.  SDDGM Mark Heath has done a great job. SDDGM Tommy Terry put on a great Leadership Conference in January of this year.

The Comptroller Board under the leadership of PGM Lunsford (now advisor) and current Chair, PGM Tucker, is working extremely hard to get things under control and revise our spending policies to conform to previous standards that worked in this jurisdiction. Everyone is accountable, including the Grand Master. The Board has been very supportive and I believe we will have some great success in the near future.

The former Grand Masters of this Jurisdiction with one or two exceptions have contributed immeasurably to this year’s successes. They have offered wise counseling and have helped in every way they could. Almost every one of them contributed toward the financial recovery. It should be mentioned that PGM Allen did contribute more than a hundred dollars to a Grand Lodge project, but it could not be listed as a donation because there would be no audit trail. He paid for printing services that we needed.

The C.C.F.C, WB Larry Williams, has made it his business to keep in touch regularly and has done well throughout the year. For the first time, the Grand Lodge had a Funeral Director, WB Wendell 0 Hutchings. After his first homecoming service (which was the only one), we received two petitions and the Eastern Stars received one as well.

WB Sidney Breckenridge has been a supporter of every Grand Master, which is as it should be. He can be depended on to serve—no matter what. He serves as Chairman of the Historical Restoration Committee as well as Assistant Grand Historian. I remember when he refused to run for Warden or Master because of the politics involved. Now he is right in the thick of things, but believe me, he is no politician.

Brethren, that just about sums up the performance of your Grand Lodge Officers over the past year. It is important, in my opinion that we have no secrets and that you know how these officers have performed. We need to know what is going on and select people who will do the job they are selected to do.

STATE OF THE NATION

We clearly saw the state this nation is getting to during our Presidential Elections this past year. It seems nobody knows what happened, but I reiterate what I have said all year long as it relates to this jurisdiction. God chooses his leaders, and we have nothing to do with it. If he chooses George Bush to be president, that is who will be president and there is nothing we can do about it. By the same token, if he does not choose you, there is nothing you can do about it. As I have said many times this year, God can make you mark the wrong block: Ask Florida.

Although we continue to make some economic progress, there is still vast evidence that racism is continuously threatening to ruin the social fabric of the nation. Inconsistent administration of justice, racial profiling all over the nation and increased hate crimes, to name a few, are strong indicators that we cannot allow ourselves to be lulled to sleep by a few successes while institutional racism reduces us to a lower level of human dignity.

We must continue to keep pace with society in every area. The tide is changing in America and is therefore changing in Masonry as well. Technology and the information age are making us a new and different country. The ways of the nation greatly influence the ways of Masonry in the future, for all of us are citizens subject to the good as well as the bad in America.

With prayer taken out of school and the great loss of interest in patriotism, we have a very different nation than the one in which most of us grew up. People are afraid to send their children to public schools because of violence. More and more often, home schooling is becoming the norm. We must become involved, and become part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

CONFERENCE OF GRAND MASTERS

The Conference of Grand Masters is still a great forum for exchanging ideas and tapping into what other jurisdictions are doing. Attendance helps to prepare Grand Wardens and Deputy Grand Masters for Masonic intercourse with their peers if and when they become Grand Masters.

Grand Masters get to give or receive advice in areas that their peers have already experienced and much good can come out of the conference.

This year I learned about two areas where this jurisdiction is lagging behind. First of all, every Grand Lodge pays $500 each year as their fair share to keep the conference going. Previously, I was not aware that we had been paying it. The second issue is that the Conference of Grand Masters agreed to contribute toward a bust of Prince Hall, erected in Barbados.

The Grand Lodge of the Caribbean, because of its location, has had to meet all of the obligations that other Grand Lodges have not met. Each Grand Lodge agreed to contribute a minimum of $1,000, but preferably $1,500.

It was further agreed this year that the interest from a $70,000 Certificate of Deposit would be used to make up any shortfall.

Our decision not to contribute, considering how well we are known, would be conspicuous. I think it could best be handled with quarterly payments. The total cost of the bust is $60,000 and there are 47 Grand Lodges.

There was quite a discussion this year, pertaining to PHA (Prince Hall Affiliate) and PHO (Prince Hall Originals). PM Joseph A Walkes was introduced and presented to the Grand Masters to give his opinion of where PHO stands. There was a very lengthy discussion before a committee was appointed to get something concrete on the issues.

Questions included things such as what are the goals. What are we trying to accomplish? What is the structure of the National Grand Lodge Compact? How do we get more information on the history of the National Compact Prince Hall Origin? National Grand Master Woodard said he would provide books and documents that allegedly will track its heritage to African Lodge 459.

While on one hand the PHO masons asserted that “We know who we are,” on the other hand they readily agreed to consider a merger as soon as they got into the committee meeting. Some Grand Masters were resolved to the fact that they were clandestine. Others wanted to know if the emphasis was on recognition or intercourse. There were many unanswered questions and the committee will have to work outside the conference to come up with proposals. More to come.

Another great event is being planned by the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. This is expected to take place in April, May or September of 2002.  Further details of that event will be attached to this address. It involves the opening of African Lodge 459 for the first time since 1984.

FRATERNAL RELATIONS

During the current Masonic year, we have had two significant events related to fraternal relations. On July 13, 2000, I verbally restored fraternal recognition to the Prince Hall Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, followed by an edict on July 30, 2000. On October 4, 2000, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F & A M of Oregon, Idaho and Montana restored fraternal relations with this Grand Lodge. Both were great accomplishments.

Our relationship with the Grand High Court has been enhanced by the leadership in that organization. MAGM Violet Bails is a professional in every sense of the word and G.W.J. Eddie Enoch is a seasoned veteran in Masonry as well as the Heroines of Jericho. We anticipate continued peace and harmony.

Additionally, we enjoy great fraternal relations with all other Masonic as well as concordant and adoptive orders. I am especially pleased to note that MW Past Grand Master Daniel L Lunsford has been selected as the Deputy of the Orient of Washington. He succeeds MW PGM and SGIG Frank H Russell. We wish S.G.I.G. Lunsford Godspeed and congratulate him on his selection. Fraternal relations between Scottish Rite Masonry and this Grand Lodge could not be better.

CONCLUSION

This administration inherited many problems this year, making it extremely difficult to concentrate on positive issues and or creativity. In Proverbs 29:18 it says “where there is no vision, the people perish.” Vision can be very cloudy when there are so many people working against their own Grand Lodge.

Last year on July 12, 2000, you voted not to affirm the Grand Master’s decision to sever the relationship between this Grand Lodge and the Prince Hall Grand Chapter, yet many have spent the entire year behaving as though I restored the relationship on my own.

The issue dealing with fraternal relations between Oregon and Washington was inherited by this administration as well. It could not be settled during our 96th Annual Session, nor our 97th~ We inherited that one too. A review of the Masonic Code will give you the basis for my decision to abide by the edict issued by Past Grand Master Henry Scott, Jr. That decision led to the restoration of fraternal relations.

In August, the management board over Project 2 in Seattle came to the Comptroller Board for $1,900 because the gas had been shut off. More than half of that amount was a penalty for nonpayment. Subsequently, I met with the management board in an attempt to recover the money. It seems the board never considered repaying the money.

On March 9, 2001, I met with the management board again, and gave them the formula for repaying the $1,900 they owed the Grand Lodge. I allowed them to receive the $600 monthly income from the antenna on the roof, as well as rent income from the Grand Chapter and Grand High Court.

They, in turn, were to make payments to the Grand Lodge in May, June, July and August, which would have paid the debt in full. Past Master Eakers, Project Manager, received the checks from the antenna, but no payments have been made to the Grand Lodge.

Additionally, I have asked the District Deputy Grand Master, RW Coverson, to attend the board meeting and determine why payments were not being made and to give me a recommendation. The board has avoided RW Coverson for at least 60 days. This is the only Project Management Board incapable of sustaining itself.

Roslyn, Washington. There have been many rumors regarding Roslyn and the Black Minor’s Cemetery. This jurisdiction has been conducting a ceremony annually on the first Saturday in August for five to six years. It has always seemed to be PGS Berry’s greatest joy to be the Chairman of the Roslyn Restoration Committee. Less than thirty days after the close of the 97th Annual Session, PGS Berry abruptly resigned “for personal reasons.”

Since then some members of this jurisdiction have poisoned the mind of one of our previous supporters—Mr. Willie Craven. His mind has been poisoned so much, that he will not even talk to “s about Roslyn. RW Art Broady has had a great relationship with Mr. Craven over a few years, and volunteered to chair the committee. Mr. Craven informed RW Broady that he does not want any help from us and we are no longer welcome. We don’t know why and he won’t tell us. We will now have more people hating Masons—and it should be clear how we get clandestine masons.

We established a program designating Grand Lodge Officers as duty officers on Wednesday nights at the Grand Lodge. Most officers would only get it once a year, but it would offer them a great opportunity to see how the Grand Lodge works, receive training, field questions, and function as a Grand Lodge Officer.

Approximately four or five showed up, of the more than twenty on the list. The Grand Senior Warden went every Wednesday to preserve the program and support the Grand Master. He only missed Wednesday’s when he was out of state. RW Alonzo D. Foote was the only duty officer who sent me a written report after performing the duty.

In 1999, P.D.G.M. Miller reported to Past Grand Master Rheubottom that he had discovered some irregularities involving the Grand Entertainment Committee Funds. An investigation was initiated which clearly and conclusively pointed to the person responsible. The committee recommended that it be allowed to continue in the process of recovering the $3,750 that was missing.

For whatever reason, that investigation report was never released or published, but was in fact, concealed. Because the situation has continued to raise its ugly head, I ended up inheriting this one as well and reopened the investigation. RW Miller wrote letters and made all attempts to get the bank who cashed the checks to pay the money back, to no avail. After doing what he could, he resigned.

RW Miller did, however, make some recommendations. I re-appointed the committee which had consisted of RW Dwaine Coverson, RW Charles Thomas and RW Larry Opher. Since RW Opher had gone to Korea, I replaced him with PM Carl V Ross (recommended by RW Miller) who was formerly employed as a manager in Key Bank.  The final report of that committee is attached.

As the Grand Senior Warden in 1998, I took on a project to raffle off a 1998 Ford Explorer. The project had the potential to make $200,000 with very little effort, but it needed everybody’s involvement. Since everyone was not committed, the project netted only $17,000. To this day, people are still saying, if the winner had chosen the car rather than the cash, we WOULD HAVE lost money. We didn’t lose money. We made the largest sum this Grand Lodge ever made in one fundraiser.

This year, with our 2,000 members and my suggestion to have one giant-size fundraiser, we had another opportunity to make $200,000. This was the easiest kind of fund raiser we could have.., no meetings to attend, no gas to purchase, no long hours standing or lifting or any of the things we have been doing for years. Instead, every brother reaches in his pocket and donates $100.

District Two raised almost $2,000 at the Tacoma Dome under the leadership of GSW Harris and DDGM Milton. They even had your Grand Master working at the Tacoma Dome to help bring home the bacon. District Seven, through donations only, turned in $1,300 toward the financial recovery of our Grand Lodge. Headquarters Lodge turned in $3,000. To date, this project has raised $14,000 in spite of all the above-mentioned challenges.

This is my opportunity to thank all those brothers and lodges and organizations that contributed to this project voluntarily. The Grand Senior Warden has placed all of the names in the Masonic Community Monitor as I said I would have him do in a recent letter to the jurisdiction. Some individuals donated $200 rather than $100 because they knew we needed it. Only one Past Grand Master failed to donate. Again, brethren, I thank you with all my heart.

In closing, I am reminded of Mark 7:19, 20—”Food doesn’t come in contact with your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then comes out again. It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s HEART, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within...

The vision I had this year was a suggestion from our Grand Senior Stewart, WB Gregory Logan, who is now disheartened and almost ready to give up on this fraternity. I spoke with a financial advisor who presented me with a hypothetical illustration. In it, with 1,600 members donating $100 a year for ten years, to an endowment fund, and an initial investment of only $1 Ok, just using simple mutual funds would amaze you.

If we had started the fund in 1990 and contributed until the year 2000, at only 10.99% interest, we would have invested $1,010,000. We would have earned $232,888 in interest, $612,577 in capital gains, and the value of the portfolio would remain at $1,864,307. The endowment is never to be touched, only the interest and capital gains earned from it. We would also have the flexibility to borrow against it.

During a visit to the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of District of Columbia, I discovered they have a six-story building for a grand lodge and own all the property around it. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland has a Grand Lodge building easily worth $10 million. We need to decide where we want to go, Brethren. We cannot sustain ourselves on crumbs.

Matthew 7:24 states, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse, because it is built on rock. But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.”

At every visitation, I have mentioned that although my lodge is very small with only about ten of its member actually living in Spokane, it is not going down on my watch. I have made it clear that “my watch” is not “while I’m Grand Master,” but my watch is while I live and breathe. That is how I feel about this Grand Lodge as well. Nobody’s going to chase me away.

This Grand Lodge has a cancer Brethren, but Past Master Tyrie Howard, Jr. of Inland Empire Lodge #3, which I belong to, gave me some answers about “What Cancer Can’t Do.” It cannot cripple love, it cannot shatter hope, it cannot corrode faith, it cannot eat away peace, it cannot destroy confidence, it cannot kill friendship, it cannot shut out memories, it cannot silence courage, it cannot invade the soul, it cannot reduce eternal life, it cannot quench the spirit, it cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.

Lastly, I never thought I would say this or put this in my address, but I want to acknowledge and thank my wife and family for their total support throughout the year. They have really put up with a lot from me. Nevertheless, my wife is living proof of Matthew 13:57, this time from the King James Version, “A prophet (Grand Master) is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.”

We need to lift each other up Brethren, and to lift up others; you must be higher than they are. Let us not pretend to be what we don’t intend to be. One proof of our love for God is our love for our Brother.

We often dislike a person not for what he is but for what we are. We can do more good by being good than any other way. People tend to make rules for others and exceptions for themselves.

Brethren, one year ago, you conferred upon me a great honor that I shall cherish forever. At the time I mentioned that God chooses His leaders, but I thanked you for helping Him. Again, I thank all that have contributed toward our successes this year, and I continue to pray for those who have not. To you I now return the Gavel of Authority.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.  That the Comptroller Board submit proposals at this session to increase taxes and start a Grand Lodge endowment.

2. That the Jurisprudence Committee study and recommend revisions to the Code Committee related to entitlements for members of this Jurisdiction verses members of foreign jurisdictions who are honorary members of this Jurisdiction.

(Currently Grand Lodge officers receive a registration kit and Grand Lodge per diem. Honorary members of foreign jurisdictions receive registration kit and the cost of their room. Should all receive the same amount?)

3. That foreign jurisdictions be notified that Bro. Eric E. Harris, who resigned as Worshipful Master of Okinawa Military #68, is not entitled to recognition as or benefits of a Past Master. (By Code, Worshipful Masters cannot resign.)

4. That this Grand Lodge contribute at least the minimum $1,000 toward the bust of Prince Hall and consider the $1,500 they want from each jurisdiction. That the money be paid in increments quarterly but paid in full by the setting of the next Conference of Grand Masters.

Fraternally,

/s/James F. Troutt II